Campaign Journal: Council Bluffs, IA

Texas Congressman Ron Paul told the crowd of more than 500 gathered at a Council Bluffs convention center tonight that he was disappointed by the cheers as he entered, as he thought he'd be convincing some undecided voters.

There were few undecideds to be found -- and pinpointing Iowans among the crowd was nearly as difficult.

His volunteers handed out caucus explainer sheets to audience members who reside in the Hawkeye State, but skipped over the smattering of curious Nebraskans who drove a few minutes past the Missouri River boundary line to hear the 76-year-old speak.

(Disclosure: I'm also a curious Nebraska native, coming to check out the campaigners...)

"There's something that you can really grab a hold to with Ron Paul," said Ed Milligan, a 45-year-old civil servant from the Omaha, Neb., suburbs. "He's consistent."

Milligan, his wife and several children made the 20-minute drive from Papillion to check out their preference for president in person. He and his 16-year-old daughter, Madeleine, said they will be watching the Iowa results closely, though they won't be heading to the polls for several months.

"He was very impressive. I like that he doesn't bash his other opponents or the president - he just focuses on their policies," Milligan said after Paul's remarks.

They weren't the only ones: several of the younger folks were sporting signs or shirts that read "Occupy Lincoln," and had traveled from the nearby capital city.

The standing-room-only crowd for Paul came new CNN/Time poll numbers showed him running a close second in Iowa to former Massachusettes Gov. Mitt Romney. He then gained an endorsement from a state senator here who had backed U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann until Wednesday afternoon.

Janet Brown, 53, of Omaha, another Nebraskan among Thursday evening's crowd, said she agrees with 98 or 99 percent of Paul's stances.

"He sounded very knowledgeable and very informed," she said as she and her son, Kyle, purchased Paul buttons from a vendor.